Joshua 5:6 “For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give, a land that floweth with milk and honey.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
The challenges we face today are no different than those experienced throughout human history. As a result, our pitfalls follow a repeating pattern. And their resolution starts with an understanding that there is an enemy that is poised to pounce.
Our complacency and our fear, though, should prompt us to walk a narrow path of faithfulness between spiritual recklessness and paralysis. Meanwhile, our trusting vigilance provides an important steadying force: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8) And as we trust in God, we arm ourselves to avoid defeat: “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.” (Psalm 25:1-2)
The Israelites provide a powerful reminder for us today. After escaping from Egypt, and seeing God part the Red Sea, they stood on the precipice of the Promised Land. God had already delivered them from the world’s superpower. Before they crossed the threshold of success, they sent spies to scout out the situation. All came back acknowledging the grandeur of the land. Yet, ten of the twelve were transfixed on the challenges that awaited them. Instead of trust, they sowed seeds of doubt in their human ability to overcome the daunting task that awaited them.
Caleb and Joshua spoke up but were overwhelmed by the masses. In fact, the population’s fear was so extreme that they conspired to murder God’s trusting servants. Furthermore, the population started to create plans to return to Egypt and accept a future of renewed servitude.
The Israelites eventually made their way into the Promised Land. But instead of enjoying a direct trip from Egypt to a land that flowed with milk and honey, they wandered in the wilderness for four decades. When they did finally cross the River Jordan, they must have reflected on the fact that their lack of trust caused them to eventually get to where God intended for them to go, but with a delay of hardship and heartache.
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO TRUST GOD AND OVERCOME THE TRIUMPH OF OUR ENEMIES. May we never stand on the precipice of the Promised Land and be overwhelmed by our concerns about giants.
